Goatee devotee Rafa Benitez is always quick to show his appreciation towards fellow proponents of facial hair. And judging by his excited response to Andre Villas Boas' ginger beard including some inappropriate touching the Spaniard might be considering converting to a full beard. Via 101GG
1. Rafa Benitez can relax For once the opposition manager will be disliked nearly as much as him. AVB was never quite the right fit in the Chelsea hot-seat, although he was still a better fit than Benitez. 2. Andre Villas Boas could ponder what might have been... but he doesn't want to John Terry's [.
Rafa Benitez says he knows his Chelsea side face a "very difficult" task when they face champions Manchester United on Sunday. The Spaniard is keen to keep up the Blues' winning ways as the battle a packed fixture list to try to finish in the top four. Chelsea need to avoid defeat against United before [.
Fearing he didn't look daft enough wearing his mask, Fernando Torres (or Zorres as he's been renamed by virtue of the mask) donned a pair of fake spectacles during this afternoon's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City. The Spaniard was displeased at referee Chris Foy's failure to award him a penalty in the closing [.
Fernando Torres is back! It turns out all the Chelsea striker needed to get back to his best was a shot to sneak through a defender's legs into the corner of the goal followed a swift kick to the nose. The bloodied Nando promptly ran around in an enthusiastic fashion that the Stamford Bridge crowd [.
Rafa Benitez has finally let the water-off-a-duck's-back approach to the hostile treatment he's received since arrived at Chelsea slip as he hit out at the club and its supporters. The Blues boss also confirmed he will leave his post at the end of the season. He criticised the club's hierarchy for undermining his position by [.
No stranger to a tetchy rant or two, Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez publicly criticized both the Blues and their fans over their behaviour during his tenure at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking after his side had strolled past Middlesbrough to reach the last eight of the FA Cup, the Spaniard had a pop at Chelsea's decision to label him as an "interim" boss.
Rafa Benitez denies there is a rift between him and Chelsea's players after a reported bust-up with captain John Terry after Sunday's defeat to Manchester City. In a strange twist of events, The Sun had reported an angry row between Benitez and Terry a week earlier but later printed an apology accepting that no such [.
It all started with the introduction of our new manager..
After an all too familiar November slump at the Bridge, Chelsea decided to part ways with Champions League and FA Cup double winning manager Roberto Di Matteo, turning instead to Rafa Benitez. The Spaniard had reportedly been in contact with the club PRIOR TO the exit from the Champions League (courtesy of Juventus).
Gol de Torres 0-2 (Monterrey vs Chelsea)... by fccaptura It looks like Chelsea might have unearthed a goalscoring sensation. The once misfiring Fernando Torres has continued his current streak with another goal. The Spaniard found the net 16seconds into the second-half of the Blues' World Club Cup semi-final against Monterrey.
Liverpool have joined the race to sign Swansea City star striker Michu, according to the Mirror. The report states Reds manager Brendan Rodgers will move for the 26-year-old if he fails to sign Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge. Michu signed for the Swans in the summer from La Liga club Rayo Vallecano, and has since impressed hugely.
West Ham United 3-1 Chelsea Premier League 1st December 2012
Jaysus, poor old Rafa's Chelsea career ain't going according to plan, is it? With a couple of goalless draws under his elasticated belt, the Spaniard saw his bejewelled side go down 3-1 away to West Ham on Saturday.
After just a few days in the job, it appears to already be open season on Rafa Benitez. Sir Alex Ferguson mocked the Spaniard for being 'very lucky' at landing the job and now footage has emerged of old foe Jose Mourinho landing a blow just for good measure. In the build up to the [...]
Rafa Benitez is beloved by Liverpool fans. He can't help but tell them exactly what they want to hear, even when he's starting a new job at a completely different club. The Spaniard used his first round of interviews as Chelsea's interim manager to hit out at former Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Roberto Di Matteo has left Stamford Bridge. Who will take over from him as Chelsea manager? OTP looks at some of the serious (and not so serious contenders). 1. Pep Guardiola Manchester City have been plumping up the Barcelona-themed cushions and waiting for a good reason to give Roberto Mancini the shove.
Barcelona is ready to step up their interest in Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina as they look to replace Victor Valdes this summer, reports the Daily Mail. The 30-year-old Spaniard has been consistently linked with a return to the Camp Nou as question marks continue to surround the Catalan club's current first-choice stopper.
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has had an operation to fix a broken nose sustained during his side's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford last Sunday. The 30-year-old rushed out to prevent Shinji Kagawa from scoring in the first half but Andre Wisdom's block on the Japan international meant that the midfielder crashed into the Spaniard and left him injured.
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is determined to recapture his best form after returning to the side against Wigan. Reina kept a clean sheet in the 3-0 win over the Latics - his first game for the club since early October after missing over a month of action with a hamstring injury. The Spaniard's shaky form has led to questions being asked of the Reds No 1 for the first time in his stay at Anfield, especially given the solid form of deputy Brad Jones.
David De Gea might have built a bit of a reputation for being uncomfortable with high balls flying towards him, but there isn't a goalkeeper in the land who could cope with a high Andy Carroll flying towards him. The Manchester United keeper dealt with this particular cross without any problems... until West Ham striker [.
Most of the news surrounding Manchester United this week deals with Gary Neville and the comments he made questioning goalkeeper David De Gea's ability or lack thereof following the Spaniard's failed clearance that led to the decisive and...
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Ingenious. Got a keeper who's a bit dubious underneath the high ball? Simply place a sign saying 'CLAIMS SPECIALISTS' behind his goal facing the opposition strikers for the entire match. They won't even bother crossing the ball anymore knowing that the goalie would only claim it from the air like a specialist in any case.
Arsenal have their own midfield diamond and his name is Mikel Arteta. After scoring the winner for the Gunners on Saturday, Arsene Wenger has praised the Spaniard and revealed what a positive impact he has had on the Arsenal team this season.
"Since the beginning of the season, Mikel has been absolutely outstanding.
The 19-year-old Spaniard revealed the French legend was his favourite player until he played with the Anfield captain, whose desire to improve himself has been inspirational Liverpool starlet Suso has revealed that Steven Gerrard has displaced Zinedine Zidane as his footballing idol, with the Anfield captain's work ethic being an inspiration to the youngster.
José Enriqué's return to the Anfield ranks has been like a new signing for Liverpool.
The shaven-headed bearded Spaniard has been bombing up and down the the left-wing these past few games and he got his just rewards with a good finish against Wigan on Saturday afternoon.
Michael Owen is set for an FA charge after kicking off the least fearsome scrap in history. The Stoke City benchwarmer threw an outrageously poor punch at Arsenal's Mikel Arteta during yesterday' match at the Emirates Stadium. The Spaniard then responded with a strange forearm backhander. Via Feint Zebra
Despite Koscielny powering home the equalizer for the Gunners'; let's not forget the magic that was Santi Cazorla. The Spaniard made some darting runs into space and troubled the City defence the entire match. It was his brilliant dipping shot, which was saved magnificently by Joe Hart, that resulted in the corner which allowed Koscielny his chance to blast the ball into the back of the net.
Manchester City 2-0 Fulham Premier League 19th January 2013
David Silva was the star of the show for Man City on Saturday, with the diminutive Spaniard netting both goals in the Citizens' comfortable victory against a poor Fulham side.
Silva opened the scoring after just two minutes, following up after Mark Schwarzer could only parry an Edin Dzeko effort.
Swansea City 1-1 Manchester United Premier League 23rd December
The £2million purchasing of Michu by Michael Laudrup must go down as one of the canniest signings of this season at least, with the attacking midfielder flourishing in a striking role for the Swans.
Fernando Llorente insists that he hasn't agreed to sign a deal with Juventus, with the Spaniard continuing to be linked to Liverpool. Llorente has long been a target for the Reds, with the striker revealing last year that the club had come in to sign him, but because of their refusal to match his £30 million exit clause, Athletic Bilbao said no.
Jose Enrique scored his first ever Premier League goal after 161 appearances for Newcastle and Liverpool during the Reds' 3-0 win over Wigan and dedicated his goal to his son, who is set to be born in the coming weeks. The Spaniard's strike, alongside two from more regular scorer Luis Suarez, sealed a victory that took his side up to 11th in the table after 12 games.
Defender Jose Enrique insists Liverpool are only a couple of wins away from establishing themselves as top-four challengers. A fifth draw in 10 Premier League matches at home to Newcastle left Brendan Rodgers' side six points adrift of fourth place. However, Enrique believes performances like the one against his former club show progress is being made and the situation is not as gloomy as is being made out.
Arsenal have always had a blend of youth and experience in the team and since Wenger took over as manager the amount of young players has increased to the point where Mikel Arteta, at 30-years old, is one of the oldest players at the club.
It is not just his age and experience that make the Spaniard one of the best role models at the club, however, it is the way he conducts himself both on and off the field.
What would Arsenal have done without Santi Cazorla? The defence have been a lot better, including the role of Mikel Arteta, and the two new strikers are settling in well. All of the midfielders have played well but without Cazorla I think we would have struggled.
The Spaniard's efforts have been rewarded with the EA Player of the Month award, making it two in a row.
Looking back at the start of the season (I know it has only just begun and we haven't played
that many games but allow me to indulge in it) and especially after the departure of Alex Song, at
that time I really thought that Francis Coquelin would be a confirmed starter. It's no rocket
science that he is one who could play in a similar role to the one vacated by Song.
There's a surprise in Newcastle's 22 man squad named for the Premier League and that is that Xisco
is in it, and the Spaniard is serving the last year of his five year deal at Newcatsle, and since
he 's a striker we suppose Newcastle will try to use him this season. Xisco in [...]
Liverpool are planning an £18million move for Benfica forward Nolito, reports talkSPORT. The 25-year-old Spaniard is widely regarded as one of the Portuguese Liga's most sought-after assets, scoring 15 goals in all competitions last season. And, after the summer arrival of new Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers, the Reds' long-term interest in the former Barcelona B star is believed to have strengthened.
Swansea goalkeeper Michael Vorm is said to be on Liverpool's radar as doubts surround the future of Pepe Reina. Reina has not made the best of starts to the new season and after dropping clangers against Hearts and Arsenal, reports have claimed Brendan Rodgers will target a new keeper in January if things do not improve.
Wigan don't exactly play dirty football under Roberto Martinez, so you can understand why the Latics boss' outstanding English has some limitations when it comes to defending ridiculous tackles. The Spaniard was mitigating for Callum McManaman's horror tackle against Newcastle yesterday. He riffed on the standard 'hasn't got a malicious bone in his body' defence.
David de Gea was voted our player of the month in February on the official website and Chris Smalling has supported this accolade, claiming that the young Spaniard has now settled in Manchester.
"When he first joined, he didn't speak too much English so it was a hard transition but he has taken to it like anything," said Smalling.
Bayern Munich celebrated the 2012 Edition of Oktoberfest in typical Bavarian style yesterday, except this time, they had new recruit Javi Martinez within their ranks. Granted, the Spaniard looked a little confused by the dress code (the Spanish don't do Bavarian Fancy dress bring on the 'beret', which is the traditional Basque costume!
